THESIS
2017
viii, 32 pages : illustrations ; 30 cm
Abstract
Despite the popularity of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital and the abundant evidence
on its separate parts, an empirical analysis of the entire causal chain is surprisingly missing.
Based on data from the Beijing College Students Panel Survey, this paper employs structural
equation modeling to fill in this gap. Results consistently substantiate the intergenerational
transmission of cultural capital, the significantly positive effects of cultural capital on educational
performance and socioeconomic status, and the mediating role of educational success between
cultural capital and socioeconomic success. Specifically, I differentiate participation in high
cultural activities from knowledge about high status culture, and reveal that it is the former rather
than the latte...[
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Despite the popularity of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of cultural capital and the abundant evidence
on its separate parts, an empirical analysis of the entire causal chain is surprisingly missing.
Based on data from the Beijing College Students Panel Survey, this paper employs structural
equation modeling to fill in this gap. Results consistently substantiate the intergenerational
transmission of cultural capital, the significantly positive effects of cultural capital on educational
performance and socioeconomic status, and the mediating role of educational success between
cultural capital and socioeconomic success. Specifically, I differentiate participation in high
cultural activities from knowledge about high status culture, and reveal that it is the former rather
than the latter that plays a crucial role in social reproduction. Additional non-cognitive
mechanisms are further incorporated and examined. As a whole, these findings shed light on the
importance of cultural capital in the educational system and social stratification in contemporary
China.
Keywords: cultural capital; educational inequality; social reproduction; China
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